Ever since he could attach bait to a hook, Tony Hill has been fascinated by fishing.

From baiting hooks with worms to making kites from brown paper with sack tails to catch fish, Hill has always been a fisherman. Whether it was trout or perch, he could be found in and around the streams and rivers near Feilding.

Those early experiences sparked an interest that grew into a lifelong passion, eventually leading Hill to become a delegate representing the Hawke’s Bay and Whakatāne sport fishing clubs, as well as a delegate on the IGFA (International game fishing association) representing New Zealand.

Hill is a life member of the Hawke’s Bay club and the first life member of the Whakatāne Sport Fishing Club.

More recently, he was awarded life membership of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, an honour that surprised him but which he is immensely proud of.

“There are only 18 life members of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, so it’s an honour to be chosen.

“I have only missed two meetings over 41 years, and I enjoy what I am doing and will do it for as long as I can,” Hill said.

An IGFA delegate helps educate fishing clubs and anglers about the rules and guidelines governing the sport, while promoting ethical and conservation-based fishing practices.

As a young man, Hill would ring the Himatangi Store to ask about wind directions.

If conditions were favourable, he would head to Himatangi or Foxton Beach for a fishing trip using a kite and long line. More often than not, he returned with enough snapper to feed the family.

A move to Napier marked a transition from beach fishing to a 10-foot Parkercraft boat. He soon discovered it was not ideally suited to shark fishing, but his enthusiasm for fishing offshore had well and truly taken hold, and game fishing became his passion.

Two larger boats followed, each with its own unusual name, before he settled on Annjakana, a name formed from parts of the names of his family members: Anne-Tonia, Jarred and Kayne.

Annjakana II followed, before Hill returned to the original name.

Today, he still owns Annjakana, a 36-foot Pelin Sterling.

Hill found his niche in game fishing in Napier, joining the Hawke’s Bay Game Fishing Club in 1974. He spent many happy years as a member and angler, taking on a variety of roles, including committee member, club captain, president, New Zealand Sport Fishing Council delegate, board member and member of the National Disputes Committee. His contribution was eventually recognised with life membership of the Hawke’s Bay Sport Fishing Club.

Hill began serving as a delegate for the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council in 1981.

At the recommendation of the late John Chibnall, he was selected as a New Zealand delegate to the IGFA in 1990, a position he continues to hold with pride 36 years later.

He has also contributed to Pete Saul’s Blue Water Fishing logbooks for many years, helping document the sport’s history and achievements.

After 25 years in the Hawke’s Bay, Hill moved to Whakatāne in 1997, drawn by the prospect of better fishing opportunities.

“In the the Hawke’s Bay all we did was chase sharks. At the nationals, we chased makos at night on 4kg line. There was the occasional yellowfin, but Whakatāne was considered the mecca for yellowfin back then.

“After one expedition, we caught five yellowfin tuna before 11 o’clock, which made the shift to Whakatāne well and truly worthwhile,” Hill said.

After settling in the Eastern Bay, Hill became involved with the Whakatāne Sport Fishing Club as an IGFA delegate. As the years have passed, Hill has had plenty of time to reflect on a lifetime spent with a rod in hand.

“Boating is getting hard for me now, as the body is shagged, but I still catch snapper on the longline.

“My time spent fishing with my kids and grandkids is a standout for me. My grandson is hooked on fishing, and by the time he headed off to university, he had five New Zealand records. He’s coming back this year, so I’ll have my crew member back for a while,” Hill said.

Among his many memories, one particular catch stands out.

“I have some great memories, such as a black marlin I caught behind Whale Island in 1987 on a club trip from Napier. It weighed 184kg and won me a bet with the skipper for a bottle of scotch,” he said.

Throughout his life, Hill’s mission has been to share his love – some might say obsession – with fishing with anyone willing to listen.

Family members, children, grandchildren and friends have all been introduced to the sport, while he has spent years teaching fellow anglers about the rules and regulations of sport fishing.

He makes the rules clear and expects them to be followed, regardless of an angler’s age or status.

Although the years have taken their toll physically, Hill’s fishing prowess remains strong.

Last season, he landed the heaviest striped marlin for the Whakatāne Sport Fishing Club.

These days, he spends more time fishing from the comfort of the beach than heading out on a boat.

Fishing has shaped Hill’s life, from his early days exploring streams and rivers near Feilding to decades spent chasing big game and serving the sport at club and national levels.

While he may now be fishing from the sidelines more often, his passion for the sport and commitment to passing on its knowledge remain undiminished.

Fishing is what Hill was born to do, and he intends to keep promoting everything the sport has to offer for as long as he can.